Tool holder sheath for cylinders

ABSTRACT

A gas cylinder sheath made of inexpensive material, such as canvas, serving as a secure holder for tools and accessories commonly organized for the use with gas torches and further providing a necessary safety assembly as required by regulatory laws.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/500,765, filed Sep. 6, 2003 entitled “A Tank Organizing Detachable Device.”

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a detachable device used for organizing accessories when employing cylinders.

2. Background

The subject invention is commonly referred to as a torch organizing detachable device used primarily with a gas cylinder although other activities utilizing cylinders are employable, such as refrigeration and plumbing.

An important application of the subject invention is carrying out the requirements of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In particular 29 CER 1926.350(a) concerns transporting, moving, and storing compressed gas cylinders; Part (b) concerns placing cylinders; Part (c) involves treatment of cylinders; Part (d) requires the safe use of fuel gas; Part (e) concerns fuel gas and oxygen manifolds; Part (f) concerns hose; Part (g) concerns torches; Part (h) concerns regulators and gauges; Part (i) involves oil and grease hazards; and Part (j) future rules.

The subject invention being a cylinder sheath makes these requirements more efficient to perform by allowing the necessary tools, accessories and welding components to be readily positioned for the operator. For instance, 350(a)(2) states “valve protection caps shall be in place and secured;” while (6) states “unless cylinders and firmly secured on a special carrier intended for this purpose, regulators shall be removed and valve protection caps put in place before cylinders are moved.” The subject invention with its potential special carrier status will allow efficient carrying out of this requirement. In a further situation, 350(g)(1) states “clogged torch tip openings shall be cleaned with suitable cleaning wires, drills, or other devices designed for such purposes.” The subject invention contains convenient pockets useful for keeping such torch tip cleaning devices close at hand.

The subject invention alternatively contains a webbed strapping useful for the necessary securing of the hose of the torch and is also available for other bulky accessories requiring such securing.

Related United States patents include: No. Inventor Year 6,386,384 Chohfi et al. 2002 6,322,179 Hillemann 2001 6,267,277 Taylor 2001 6,152,300 Perkins 2000

Referring to the above list, Chohfi et al. disclose a protective structural device for gas cylinders to protect the body of the cylinder from damage by covering the total cylinder by a top part and a bottom part connected by clips. In particular this design makes stacking of such small capacity gas cylinders convenient.

Hillemann discloses a preheated welding workpiece cavity and holder but does not provide tool holders or a gas cylinder protector.

Taylor discloses a tool holder for welding accessories containing attached magnets that allow it to magnetically attached to a variety of surfaces and composed of flexible material capable of being rolled into a easily carried configuration.

Perkins discloses a tool storage device for line installation workers especially designed to drape over the top of a telephone pole. The device is carried by a shoulder strap.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The objectives of the present invention include overcoming the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art by designing an inexpensive, easily employed cylinder sheath, that serves as a holder for tools and accessories commonly organized for the use with gas cylinders, especially gas torches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a view of the tool sheath covering the top of a gas cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 1 identifies the main attributes of the subject invention. The sheath 40 is in the form of a slipcover that is positioned over the top of the cylinder 50 where the cylinder nozzle 51 resides. Depending upon the size of the cylinder 50, the sheath 40 is adjusted to fit securely by sewing with heavy thread 41. Various pockets 42 are sewed to the slipcover sheath 40 in a pattern and size whereby tools and accessories, often required for the safe use of the cylinder 50, are easily available for use with the various cylinder 50 activities. Webbing 43 is firmly attached to the top of the sheath 40 when large accessories, such as hoses, need to be stored with the cylinder 50.

A cylinder sheath comprising rugged fabric, often a double layer of light weight canvas or duck cloth, cut specifically to form a removable slipcover that is placed over the cylinder and secured with fasteners, often heavy thread, to firmly fasten the slipcover together to the appropriate size required by the cylinder. Additionally fire-retardant fabric is employable. Such a cylinder is often an acetylene tank employed for welding. Further in welding use, the welding torch is often employed not only for melting welding rod but just for heating purposes, such as with plumbing activities where only soldering is employed. In other circumstances the cylinder contains gas used with refrigeration. The sheath us designed with various sized pockets positioned around the slipcover to firmly hold small accessories, and the pockets are secured by additional fasteners, also usually heavy thread. Such pockets are sized to conveniently hold the tools and accessories employed by the cylinder's principal activity, such as welding or refrigeration. Often such principal activity falls under government regulation of safety as when welding is employed under the regulations of OSHA When large accessories are employed such as a welding hose, a webbing is utilized and fastened securely near the top of the sheath

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The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from generic concept, and therefore such adaptations or modifications are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation 

1. A cylinder sheath comprising: rugged fabric cut specifically to form a removable slipcover that is placed over said cylinder, fasteners connected to said fabric to firmly fasten said slipcover together to the appropriate size required by said cylinder, and multiple pockets positioned around said slipcover to firmly hold small accessories, wherein said pockets are secured by additional fasteners.
 2. The sheath according to claim 1 wherein said fabric further comprises fire-retardant material.
 3. The sheath according to claim 1 wherein said fabric further comprises one or more layers of lightweight material.
 4. The sheath according to claim 3 wherein said material further comprises canvas.
 5. The sheath according to claim 3 wherein said material further comprises duck cloth.
 6. The sheath according to claim 1 wherein said cylinder further comprises a gas cylinder.
 7. The sheath according to claim 6 wherein said gas cylinder further comprises an acetylene tank.
 8. The sheath according to claim 1 wherein said pockets further comprise special sizes according to the principal activity of said cylinder.
 9. The sheath according to claim 7 wherein said principal activity further comprises gas welding.
 10. The sheath according to claim 7 wherein said principal activity further comprises refrigeration.
 11. The sheath according to claim 7 wherein said principal activity further comprises being regulated by governmental action.
 12. The sheath according to claim 1 wherein said fasteners further comprise heavy thread sewed into said fabric.
 13. The sheath according to claim 1 wherein said slipcover further comprises webbing attached by further fasteners to the upper portion of said slipcover.
 14. The sheath according to claim 12 wherein said webbing is sized to securely hold large accessories.
 15. A gas cylinder sheath comprising: a multiple layer of rugged fabric cut specifically to form a removable slipcover that is placed over said cylinder; heavy thread sewed into said fabric to firmly connect said slipcover together to the appropriate size required by said cylinder, multiple pockets positioned around the slipcover to firmly hold small accessories, wherein said pockets are secured by heavy thread, and wherein said pockets are sized for efficient principal activity use; and webbing attached by fasteners to the upper portion of said slipcover, wherein said webbing is sized to securely hold large accessories.
 16. The sheath according to claim 15 wherein said fabric further comprises being treated for fire-retardation.
 17. The sheath according to claim 15 wherein said gas cylinder further comprises an acetylene tank.
 18. The sheath according to claim 15 wherein said principal activity further comprises gas welding.
 19. The sheath according to claim 15 wherein said principal activity further comprises refrigeration.
 20. The sheath according to claim 15 wherein said principal activity further comprises being regulated by governmental action. 